LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Robert Henry STRATFORD
Service No: 407341
Born: Adelaide SA, 14 December 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 14 September 1940
Unit: No. 1 Service Flying Training School, RAAF Station Point Cook VIC
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Service Flying Training School Wapiti A5-21), Werribee VIC, 10 February 1941, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Burwood General Cemetery, VIC
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Clarence Roy and Dorothy Gertrude Stratford, of North Glenelg, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 117, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
At 0930 hours on 10 February 1941 Wapiti aircraft A5-21 and A5-39 had a mid-air collision about 2 kms east of Werribee while instrument flying. Both aircraft were completely destroyed and one crew member was killed.
The crew members of A5-21 were:
Sergeant Robert John Barker (2931) (Pilot) Slightly injured, Killed in an aircraft accident 11 March 1942
Leading Aircraftman Robert Henry Stratford (407341)
The crew members of A5-39 were:
Leading Aircraftman (later Flight Lieutenant) Robert Sydney Osment DFC (400629) Uninjured, Discharged from the RAAF: 29 April 1945
Flight Lieutenant A E Robertson (Pilot) (RAF, on loan to the RAAF) Slightly injured
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 188; A705, 163/163/215
The Air Force List December 1940